A/V receiver or a computer will do for a home theater?

[concisa]

I have a Sony Vaio with an Audigy 2 sound card. I'm putting together a home theater system in the house. I wish to have at least front right, center and left speakers, subwoofer, and back right and left speakers. Also I'd like the system to be able to decode the surround sound information on today's modern DVDs.

Searching the basic equipment for this set up, I came across several A/V receivers with all the bells and whistles such as a Denon AVR-3803 that has gotten great reviews.

However, its steep price make me wonder if I really need all those bells and whistles. Perhaps I could achieve acceptable results for my mortal aging ears using all the bells and whistles already available in my Sony Vaio PCV-RZ46G.

Is it possible to achieve acceptable results linking my computer directly to the stero system speakers? Do I need additional software or hardware to decode surround sound information contained on the DVDs? Notice to that the same set-up will be used to listen to music mostly classical and jazz.

I'd appreciatte your opinions, input, suggestions, recommendations.

Thanks

Armando

[guns1inger]

Your PC can probably do it all, however the amp has several advantages

1. Multiple inputs - I have my DVD, VCR, DVB, console all going in, and a nice simple out to the TV

2. I can use my PC for other things while the amp is in use

3. The amp never needs upgrading

Can you get component out from your video card ?

[sanjayk]

If your sound card offers multiple output for 6 ch then you can always connect a HT speaker system to it. But the amp of the PC will not be as powerful as a standalone amp.

If your sound card has S/PDIF output then it can be connected to an A/V receiver.

BTW, all the software like WinDVD, PowerDVD, MPC, you use to play DVD on your PC, it will be able to decode 5.1 channel sound. Only thing is that correct speaker configuration of the PC should match the speaker system attached to the PC.

[concisa]

Thank you very much for your answers. They helped a lot.

Gunslinger: yes, I can get component out; but you are right...amp never needs upgrading and never freezes on you.

Sanjayk: computer doesn't have S/PDIF.

Thanks again.

Armando

[INFRATOM]

Some of us or most of us say the price is steep ... ask yourselves are going to switch to HD TV , see how much you are going to pay for that HD TV which may be obsolete in a short time specially if it has a lamp like those projection TV's ... go out and buy one of those Bose it maybe around $2000 but it is going to last you more than 10 years and give you HD audio, don't under estimate the quality of audio when it comes to watching a movie. Give the same value for your ears as you give your eyes.

[concisa]

Thanks for your thoughts, infratom.
Armando